Which unshielded twisted pair (UTP) category supports data rates up to 10 Gigabits per second (Gbps)?

The correct answer is that CAT-6, CAT-6A, and CAT-7 cables support data rates up to 10 Gigabits per second (Gbps). These categories of unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable are designed to handle higher frequencies and provide improved performance over their predecessors.

CAT-6 has a maximum bandwidth of 250 MHz, which allows it to transmit data at 10 Gbps for distances up to 55 meters. CAT-6A enhances this capability, increasing the bandwidth to 500 MHz and supporting 10 Gbps up to 100 meters. CAT-7, which introduces shielding that provides better protection against interference and crosstalk, also supports 10 Gbps speeds, making it suitable for high-performance networking environments.

This distinction in capabilities is crucial for anyone designing or troubleshooting networks, as the choice of the appropriate cable category directly impacts the network's performance and capacity to handle current and future data traffic.

The other cable categories mentioned do not support 10 Gbps. CAT-5, primarily designed for data rates up to 100 Mbps, and CAT-4 and CAT-3, which support lower data rates suitable for voice and low-speed data transmission, do not meet the